Island Gateway businesses on the move

Only Bargain Boutique and the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce office haven’t moved as construction of the Island Gateway project remains on schedule at State Route 305 and Winslow Way.

Winslow Shoe Repair, which operated for nearly 30 years at the rear of the old Nakata building at 554 Winslow Way, moved Dec. 30 into the Chase Bank Building’s Suite G at 181 Winslow Way W.

Owner Chun Cho said Island Gateway developers assisted him by providing a truck and two men to help move the heavy machinery he uses in his business.

Executive Director Kevin Dwyer said the chamber and the state licensing office that shares the space have signed a lease to move to 395 Winslow Way E. on Feb. 1. The 1,500-square-foot space is sandwiched between the Streamliner Diner and Johansson Clark Real Estate in a building owned by Town & Country Markets Inc.

Dwyer said the space is currently being remodeled to fit the new occupants’ needs.

Cynthia Van Buskirk, manager of the second-hand store, said it will be at least two months before the Bainbridge institution moves. She said Bargain Boutique, which donates the proceeds of its sales to Children’s Hospital in Seattle, is negotiating with a potential landlord for a space in Winslow.

“We’re getting closer,” she said, “but we don’t have a lease yet. We’ll give plenty of notice and let people know when we’ll move.”

Andrew Lonseth, a partner with Island Gateway, said PHC Construction will move into the chamber space in February. He said the Nakata family plans to move the building that held its original store to its property. Lonseth said developers also hope to move the corner building later this year.

He said the Kids Discovery Museum is still scheduled to open its doors during the first week of June.